Caitlyn had a pic line for the majority of her stay in the NICU. They took it out when she went up to the transitional nursery before going home. One of the hardest things I watched there was watching them put one in her head. Her poor skin was so bruised and thin at the time, it was the best place for it.

Shannon Mommy to Caitlyn Elizabeth 30 weeks, 3 days born (8/26/2003) early due to PE, IUGR, HELLP syndrome, premature rupture of membranes

Ava did not need a PICC. She had several IVs though. I had a PICC and to be honest with you, had they suggested a PICC for AVA, I doubt I would have permitted it.
They do PICCs when IVs are frequently needed. They do get infected...I know many that it has happened to. I am sure though that they are keeping a close eye on Ethan.

Jen 32
DH Bob 36

EDD 5/17/04

http://babygirl.aokwebhost4free.com

Max had a PICC line placed on day 10 of his NICU stay. It was pulled a day or two later because his leg started to look a little red. When the tip was analyzed, it did show bacteria clustered on the tip, but the docs assured us that it wouldn't amount to anything because the bacteria was clustered. Well, after a couple of months and 3 infections later, the worse was confirmed. Max had endocriditis (vegetation on the heart) This happened because Max has pulmonary stenosis (a narrowing in his pulmunary valve in his heart). The PS was not diagnosed until a week after the PICC line placement. Even with PS, the doctors would have recommended a PICC line though. In hindsight, I will never put a PICC line in another baby of mine until all of the veins run out on their body first (from IV sticks). My son almost died from the infections, and thankfully the endocriditis was finally correctly diagnosed and treated (but it took over two months to figure out he had it, because it is very hard to detect).
That's my two cents....

Kara (33)
DH, John (35)
Max, 1/20/03, 25 wks, 534g. (IUGR), severe PE
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/m/mightymax/

Breanna did not, but Emilie did for a couple of days

Mommy to:

Breanna (1-25-02)
Emilie (2-19-03)

Ethan got an infection from his too. He is now on his 2nd one....

Will 2-6-00 ( PE at 35 weeks)
Elizabeth 7-3-01 ( NO PE)
#3 EDD 10-25-04
Proud Aunt to Ethan born 27.5 weeks weighing 1lb 8 ounces! Our little fighter!
Already off the ventilator and opened his eyes!

I had 24weeker twins and both my girls had to have a PICC lines. Olivia who was the bigger of the 2(1.8lbs)had 2 or 3 different ones because she kept getting infections. Elizabeth who was the smaller one (15ozs)got a infection from the first one but kept her other one for almost 3mos and then didn't need it anymore. I guess sometimes you have to do what you think is best.

Olivia & Elizabeth
24weekers
1/27/03

My daughter (26 weeker) had a pic line. I did not even really understand it at the time - I was in a daze, but I agreed to it. I actually told them to do whatever they felt necessary to save my daughter's life. We had no problems from it. Another mother in the NICU refused her son to have one. He ended up with lots of problems, not necessarily from that event. The way I looked at it was that these people knew what they were doing, and I was right. They saved my itty bitty baby's life! She's two and a half and perfect.

Suzanne

It's a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). Little Tara had had one; they had to wait for a specialist to come in and place it because she was so tiny.

Carol (38)
DH Bill (40)
Tara Mairichi
12/7-12/9, 2002
The Mightiest Little Angel

Hi Meg,
Yes, my DD had one of those. I don't know how to spell it, either. I do remember being wary of the risk of infection that they told me about. My DD did not have infection with it, and it acutally was better than what was in before it. I remember so many medical terms and machines/tests/gizmos being thrown at me so quickly in the NICU, and that's probably where you're at, too. The nurses at my DD's bedside were wonderful in explaining things.

Hang in there. You and your family continue to be in my prayers.

~Sandy/DD born via emergency C at 35 wks. June '03 due to Severe PE/class III HELLP/chronic HBP/asthma

My daughter had many lines including a pic line. Attached to my signature line is my daughter's tribute site. You might want to watch it as it can show the good times and the bad times of the NICU. It really shows what life is like living in the NICU. Even though we did not have a good outcome we had many many wonderful days with our daughter. After this tribute was made we showed it to the our NICU doc's, nurses, and friends. It is showned to new doctors that enter the resident program at St. Louis Children's Hospital in hope they will know what it is like to be a parent in the NICU....



Hugs
~T

Mommy to
Drew(13)
Ky (11)
~i~ Katlyne(12/9/02-04/02/03) and little bud (Due 09/11/04)http://www.forevernetwork.com/Archive/lifestory.cfm?Archive_ID=10971&Directory=%2FArchives%2FMountHope&CFID=1089289&CFTOKEN=79068509